Bohren's Moving and Storage

Former Bohren's Moving & Storage building, September 2017.

Historical Overview

A two-story, mid-20th-century building once stood at 43 Princeton Hightstown Road. This structure was originally built for a moving and storage company and was for generations a fixture of old Princeton Junction.

In 1924, Edwin L. Bohren founded Bohren's Moving and Storage with only a Model T Ford.[1] He was eventually joined in leadership by Warren Froehlich.[2] Some time between 1948 and 1953, Bohren's opened their facility (with apartments on the second floor) at 43 Princeton Hightstown Road.[3],[4] However, in 1955, much of this building was demolished by a freak tornado that whipped through Princeton Junction.[5] However, their facility was rebuilt. That same year, Bohren's joined United Van Lines.[6] By the late 1960s, a wing and additional building were constructed on the property,[7] which further expanded as the two structures merged into one.[8]

Around 1976 or 1977, Bohren's opened a 22,000 square foot facility on Alexander Road.[9],[10] Concurrently, the property at 43 Princeton Hightstown Road was sold to VP Realty,[11] and at some point Bohren's eventually moved its headquarters to Robbinsville.[12] In the ensuing years, 43 Princeton Hightstown Road hosted various other businesses - an automobile detailing center,[13] contractors,[14] an insurance company,[15] a printing service,[16] a sports memorabilia store,[17] among many others. The building was demolished in 2018[16] or 2019[17] and replaced with a mixed-used commercial and residential complex.[18] 

Bohren's building, 1962. Photographed by Howard E. Schrader.

Go to Princeton Junction Homepage

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Bibliography

1. Bohrens Moving And Storage. (2020, December 2). Bohrens Long Distance Movers: Local Movers: Movers NJ. Bohrens Moving And Storage - Family-owned, local moving company. https://bohrensmoving.com/about-bohrens-local-movers-nj/ 
2. "Obituaries - Edwin L. Bohren." Town Topics. December 23, 1987.
3. ​​“West Windsor Township Meeting Minutes, 1797-2012.,” n.d. Original Township Committee meeting minute database located in the Municipal Center.
4. Bohren's Express and Storage. (1953, June 14). Moving? Call Bohren's Express and Storage. Town Topics. Princeton. 
5. "Junction Tornado Levels Warehouse." Princeton Herald. March 23, 1955.
6. Bohrens Moving And Storage. (2020, December 2). Bohrens Long Distance Movers: Local Movers: Movers NJ. Bohrens Moving And Storage - Family-owned, local moving company. https://bohrensmoving.com/about-bohrens-local-movers-nj/ 
7. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1957.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1957.
8. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 1969.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 1969.
9. "First Shovelful." Town Topics. May 20, 1976.
10. Jerry Soloman. (1977, May 13). Congratulations Bohrens Moving & Storage, Inc. Trenton Times. 
11. Bohren's Moving & Storage, V.P. Realty Co. “Deed.” West Windsor, 1977. Located in the Mercer County Clerk's Office, Mercer County Deed Book 2038 Page 134.
12. Bohrens Moving And Storage. (2020, December 2). Bohrens Long Distance Movers: Local Movers: Movers NJ. Bohrens Moving And Storage - Family-owned, local moving company. https://bohrensmoving.com/about-bohrens-local-movers-nj/ 
13. Kar Kare, Inc. (1995, December 6). Grand Opening Special. Town Topics. Princeton.
14. Bohren’s Moving & Storage, September 2017. (2017). photograph, West Windsor, NJ. 
15. Ibid.
16. Kar Kare, Inc. (1995, December 6). NOTICE - To Whom it May Concern. Town Topics. Princeton.
17. Mark Kimmel. (1977, November 19). Annual Father's Day Sale. Saturday Times. Trenton.
18. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 2018.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2018.
19. "West Windsor Aerial Photography Composite Map, 2019.” Map. Historical Society of West Windsor - Map Archives. West Windsor, NJ, 2019.
20. ​Personal observations of the author of this article (Paul Ligeti)